In a sense, it seems we're looking at something like the Gruhn/Walker era of the mid-late '80s: a new face (or faces) comes in and shakes up Guild's builds and designs. I imagine there was some grumbling among Guild loyalists about the departures from tradition that Gruhn and Walker introduced (although there were no internet boards where the grumbling could coalesce). But from our present perspective, I don't think those guitars are viewed as non-Guilds because of their departures from what went immediately before.
I understand the sentiment here. If I wanted a Gibson, I'd buy a Gibson. If I wanted a Martin, I'd buy a Martin (I actually did buy one, but don't feel the need to buy any more). I like Guilds. But I'm also not entirely sure what the "Guild sound" is--even just staying within the New Hartford era, my F20 sounds different from my F47R, which sounds different from my D50, which of course sounds different from my Orpheum. If the guitar is good (and maintains the visual bloodlines), I don't think I'll have trouble accepting it as a Guild.